Water closet bowl setting flange and seal



28, 1967 .1. HARRELL WATER CLOSET BOWL SETTING FLANGE AND SEAL Filed May11, 1964 INVENTOR J. W. Harrell BY M F s i United States Patent Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in water closet drainconnections, and more particularly to water closet bowl setting flangesand seals.

It is an object of the invention to provide a closet bowl setting flangeand water seal which is readily adaptable for use on cement or woodfloors for quickly installing the water closet bowl in the bathroom andconnecting the same to the sewer waste pipe. I

A particular object of the invention is to provide a setting flange andseal assembly which will permit installation of the flange and seal andsetting of the bowl without the use of special tools, whereby the bowlmay be set without further trimming or adjusting. of the sewer pipe orthe application of wax type seals to the sewer pipe.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a setting flangeand seal assembly which when mounted in place in the sewer waste pipeand on the floor of the building provides a firm supporting structure ofthe water closet bowl, to which the water closet bowl may be tightenedfirmly to prevent tilting or movement of the bowl.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a setting flangeand seal assembly which is so constructed that a firm and positive waterand sewer gas-tight connection is provided between the water closet bowland the sewer waste pipe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting flange and waterseal which will accommodate variations in the size of the soil or wastepipe in the interior dimensions thereof and which will likewsie elfect aseal with the soil or waste pipe regardless of whether the upper end ofthe pipe is closely adjacent or aligned axially with the Water closetbowl or surface of the floor.

Another object is to provide a setting flange and seal of the characterdescribed having a positive seal may be effected without special toolsand which is adapted to accommodate slight misalignment of the wastepipe with the surface of the floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a setting flange and waterseal which eliminates the use of lead in open joints or wax seals, andwhich effects substantial savings and time and labor in connection withthe making of the installation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a setting flange andwater seal which is adaptable for use with various sizes and types ofwater closet bowls and soil pipes and which will form a water and gastight seal between the bowl and the waste pipe regardless of thevariations in the dimensions and in alignment and position of the upperend of the pipe, and which is adaptable for various types and styles ofcloset bowls.

Additional objects and advantages ofthe invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description ofa deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the floor of abuilding showing the lower end of a water closet bowl and a settingflange and water seal connecting the same with a waste pipe inaccordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the setting flange and the water sealmembers together with the lower drain horn and upper end of the wastepipe and FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec- 3,31 1,391Patented Mar. 28, 1967 tional view of a slightly modified form of theflange of the installation of FIGURE 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the subfloor of a buildinghaving a linoleum or similar finish floor surface 11 mounted thereon. Asewer or soil pipe 12 is disposed in an opening 13 formed in thesub-floor and finish flooring 11, and a conventional toilet bowl 14 isdisposed above the open upper end 15 of the sewer waste pipe and isconnected thereto by the setting flange and seal assembly indicatedgenerally by the numeral 20. The water closet bowl is of typicalconstruction having an outwardly extending base flange 16 with adepending outer marginal rim 17 which surrounds the opening in the floorand supports the bowl on the floor. Centrally disposed within thelateral depending rim 17 of the bowl is the usual annular outlet horn ordrain 18 which surrounds the discharge duct 19 of the closet bowl.

A setting flange and water seal unit 20 includes a floor flange andexpansion sleeve member 21 which has at its upper end an externalannular floor flange 22 provided with two radially spaced dependingannular supporting ribs 23 and 24, respectively, which define an annulargroove 25 in the under surface of the flange '22. The ribs 23 and 24 areadapted to engage and be supported by the upper surface of the finishfloor 11 and suitable circumferentially spaced apertures 26 are formedin the flange 22 by means of which the flange may be secured to thefloor by wood screws or the like (not shown) extending downwardlythrough the apertures 26 and into the floor, in the usual manner. A pairof arcuate keyhole type mounting slots 27 and 28 are formed in theflange 22 between the depending ribs 23 and 24 for receiving bolts 29 bymeans of which the closet bowl is secured to the flange as shown inFIGURE 1. The slots 27 and 28 are diametrically opposed with respect tothe central bore 30 of the flange and enlarged entrance openings orapertures 31 and 32, respectively, are formed at the diametricallyopposed ends of the slots as shown in FIGURE 2. The openings 31 and 32accommodate the heads 29a of the bolts 29 after the flange has beensecured to the floor, whereby the bolts may be inserted in the slots andthe toilet bowl may be properly positioned with respect to thesurrounding structure by rotary movement about the axis of the sewerdrain pipe 12 in the usual manner. A pair of diametrically opposedperipheral notches 33 and 34 are formed in the flange intermediate theslots 27 and 28, and these notches permit insertion of additionalmounting bolts therein for securing the toilet bowl base to the settingflange 22 in the usual manner.

An elongate expander sleeve 35 is formed integral with and depends fromthe underside of the flange 22 surrounding the central opening or bore30 of the flange, the inner wall or bore 36 of the sleeve defining acontinuation of the opening in the flange. The sleeve is suflicientlylong to extend substantially below the floor and into the open upper end15 of the sewer pipe or drain pipe 12. The lower end portion 37 of thesleeve is provided with a plu rality of elongate longitudinallyextending slots 39 which extend upwardly from the lower end 38 of thesleeve a distance approximately one-half the length of the sleeve.

The slots 39 flare downwardly from their upper ends to provide agradually increased opening between the adjacent fingers or leaflikesections 39a of the lower portion 37 of the sleeve, as is clearly shownin FIGURE 2, whereby such sections may flex inwardly to reduce theoutside diameter of the lower portion of the sleeve for a purpose whichwill hereinafter be more fully explained.

An elongate substantially cylindrical elastomeric sealing sleeve orgasket 40 is disposed on the exterior of the expander sleeve 35, asclearly shown in FIGURE 1, with its upper end abutting the under side ofthe flange 22 between the inner depending rib 24 and the sleeve 35. Thesealing sleeve or gasket 40 is of such a length that its lower end 43extends below the lower end 38 of the sleeve 35, as clearly shown inFIGURE 1. The bore 42 is reduced from the upper end 41 thereofdownwardly, as best shown in FIGURE 2, whereby the wall thickness of thesleeve is increased substantially from the upper end 41 to the lower end43 of the sleeve. Also, at the lower end of the sleeve an internalannular flange 44 is formed in the bore of the sleeve, and this flangeis disposed slightly below the lower end 38 of the expander sleeve 35,as shown in FIGURE 1. When the sealing sleeve 40 is disposed on theexterior of the expander sleeve 35, the depending fingers 39a of theexpander sleeve are biased inwardly by the resilient material of thesealing sleeve, and when the expander sleeve with the sealing sleevethereon is inserted into the upper open end of the sewer pipe 12 theslots 39 permit the fingers 39a to flex inwardly and allow the sealingsleeve to enter the bore of the sewer pipe. The fingers, being flexedinwardly, by virtue of their inward flexing permit the sealing sleeve toretain its substantially cylindrical external shape, whereby theexternal sealing surface 45 of the sleeve may engage the wall of thesewer pipe throughout the length thereof telescoped into the sewer pipe.The inturned flange 44 at the lower end of the sealing sleeve 40provides a stop which engages the lower ends 38 of the fingers 39a andprevents upward displacement of the sleeve by pressure from within. Theflange also provides a shoulder which is engaged by the fingers 39a inmoving the sleeve 40 downwardly into telescoped position within the boreof the sewer pipe 12.

An inner lock sleeve or spread ring 50 which has an upper externalsurface 51 of a diameter conforming closely but slidably to the bore 36of the expander sleeve 35 is slid-able into the expander sleeve anddownwardly therein. The lower portion 52 of the exterior surface of thesleeve is tapered inwardly with a slight curvature, so that as the locksleeve moves downwardly in the bore of the expander sleeve 35, the lowertapered surface 52 of the lock sleeve will wedge the fingers 39aoutwardly and compress the lower portion of the sealing sleeve 4t) intotight frictional sealing engagement with the bore wall of the sewer pipe12. The lock sleeve 50 may be driven downwardly in the bore 36 of theexpander sleeve 35 as far as is desired, by means of a wooden block orany other suitable driving means engaging the upper end 53 of the locksleeve and accessible through the central opening 30 of the flange 22 ofthe floor flange and expansion member 21. The lock sleeve 56 may bedriven downwardly to compress the elastomeric sleeve to any desireddegree, and such compression of the elastomeric sealing sleeve providesa frictional grip between the sealing sleeve and the bore wall of thesewer pipe and between the sealing sleeve and the exterior surface ofthe expander sleeve 35, whereby the expander sleeve and floor flangeassembly 20 is held against displacement from engagement with the sewerpipe and a fluid and gas tight seal is effected between the pipe and theexpander sleeve 21 by the sealing sleeve.

With the floor flange and expander sleeve 21 thus securely held in fluidand gas tight sealing engagement with the open upper end of the sewerpipe 12 and secured to the finish floor 11 by the screws extendingthrough the apertures 26 in the flange 22, the device is in position toaccept the water closet bowl. An annular seal ring 60 or gasket isdisposed on the upper surface of the flange 22 surrounding the bore 30in the flange and an upstanding annular rib 61 on the upper surface ofthe flange 22 concentric with the bore 30, retains the seal ring inplace. The horn or drain 18 of the water closet bowl is set on thegasket with the bolts 29 extending upwardly through the usual apertures16a in the base flange 16 of the closet bowl. The bolts 29 are disposedin the slots 27 and 28 and have their heads engaging beneath the flange22 so that the nuts 2% threaded on the bolts will secure the base flangeof the closet bowl to the floor flange and expansion member 21 insealing engagement therewith. Additional bolts (not shown) similar tothe bolts 29 may be disposed with their heads below the flange 22 andwith their shanks extending upwardly through the slots 33 and 34 in theflange 22 and through openings in the base flange 16 of the closet bowlsimilar to the opening 16a to further secure the base flange of thecloset bowl to the floor flange and expansion member. By tightening thenuts 2% on the bolts 29 the closet bowl is drawn into tight sealingengagement of the horn 18 with the gasket 60 to provide a water and gastight seal between the horn and the floor flange and expansion member21, whereby the entire assembly is secured to and connected in gas andwater tight sealing communication with the sewer pipe 12.

The elongate sealing sleeve or gasket 40 is preferably formed of aneoprene or similar material which is tough and which is likewiseresistant to oil and corrosive materials. The sealing gasket ring 60 islikewise preferably formed of such material. The floor flange andexpansion member 21 is preferably formed of brass or the like while thelock sleeve or spread ring 50 is likewise formed of brass or othermaterial which is resistant to the action of water, rusting and thelike.

In FIGURE 3 a modified form of the floor flange and expansion member isillustrated in which the numerals applied to the parts are identicalwith a prefix 1 before all such numerals. The expander sleeve isgenerally the same in shape and configuration to the expander sleeve 35but the elongate elastomeric sealing sleeve or gasket 140, while inconfiguration substantially the same as the sleeve 49, is cemented orvulcanized to the exterior surface of the upper portion of the expandersleeve 135 above the slots 139 for-med therein, as indicated at 140a,whereby the sealing sleeve or gasket 140 becomes a unit with theexpander sleeve and cannot be displaced therefrom. Other parts of thefloor flange and expansion member and associated parts are identicalwith those previously described and bear the same numbers with theprefix 1 before each number.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a new and improved settingflange and water seal for connecting water closet bowls to the sewersoil or drain pipe, has been provided which is easily connectible orinstalled with a minimum of tools and without the need of experiencedand highly trained personnel.

It will also further be seen that the setting flange and seal assemblyprovides a positive gas and water tight seal between the closet bowl andthe sewer pipe, and that the assembly is adaptable to accommodate slightvariations in length and size of the sewer pipe and misalignment withrespect to the floor of the structure in which the closet bowl is beinginstalled.

Furthermore, it will be seen that the setting flange and seal assemblyprovides for a tight gripping engagement between the assembly and thesewer pipe to prevent dislodgment of the assembly from its position andsealing en gagement communicating with the sewer pipe.

It is further apparent that the setting flange and sealing assemblyprovides a positive seal which is easily installed without special toolsor equipment.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A closet bowl floor connector and seal assembly for providing a watertight and gas tight seal between a tubular outlet horn depending from acloset bowl and the inlet end portion of a sewer pipe, said assemblycomlength extending from a point on the upper portion of 10 saidexpander sleeve adjacent the floor engaging fiange to a point below thelower end of said depending fingers of said expander sleeve, the bore ofsaid sealing sleeve being tapered inwardly from the upper end toward thebottom end to provide an increasing wall thickness from the upper endtoward the lower end of said sealing sleeve, and an internal annularflange at the lower end of the bore of said sealing sleeve disposedbelow and adjacent the lower ends of said depending fingers of saidexpander sleeve, said flange on the lower portion of said sealing sleevebeing engageable with the lower ends of said depending fingers of saidexpander sleeve to assure movement of said sealing sleeve into saidsewer pipe as the same is positioned in the open upper end of saidsewerpipe; and a substantially cylindrical tubular lock sleeve of lesserlength than the length of said expander sleeve having an externaldiameter substantially conforming to the bore of the upper portion ofsaid expander sleeve and having a tapered surface at its lower end, saidlock sleeve being longitudinally slidably insertable in said expandersleeve and engaging said depending finger portions of said expandersleeve for expanding said finger portions outwardly to compress thesealing sleeve between said fingers and said sewer pipe to seal betweenthe expander sleeve and the sewer pipe; and means on said flange adaptedto connect said flange with a water closet bowl in a sealing flowcommunication with a water closet bowl.

2. The device of the character set forth in claim 1, including: meansfor bonding said elongate elastomeric sealing sleeve to the exterior ofsaid expander sleeve between the annular floor engaging flange and theslots forming the depending fingers in the lower portion of the sleeve.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,862 3/1924Lester 285323 1,982,464 11/1934 Buchanan 285-462 2,132,636 10/1938 Maahs285-216 2,537,183 1/1951 Bloomer 285-216 2,944,265 7/1960 Carmichael2185346 3,012,252 12/1961 Gaddy 285-59 3,198,553 8/1965 Fladung 285-56CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS P. CALLAGHAN, Examiner.

R. GIANGIORGI, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CLOSET BOWL FLOOR CONNECTOR AND SEAL ASSEMBLY FOR PROVIDING A WATERTIGHT AND GAS TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN A TUBULAR OUTLET HORN DEPENDING FROM ACLOSET BOWL AND THE INLET END PORTION OF A SEWER PIPE, SAID ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING: AN ELONGATED TUBULAR EXPANDER SLEEVE HAVING AN EXTERNALANNULAR FLOOR ENGAGING FLANGE AT ITS UPPER END, AND HAVING THE LOWERPORTION OF THE CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OFLONGITUDINAL SLOTS FORMING DEPENDING FINGERS IN SUCH LOWER PORTION OFSAID SLEEVE, AN ELONGATE ELASTOMERIC SEALING SLEEVE DISPOSED EXTERIORLYOF SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE AND ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED IN THE OPEN UPPEREND OF A SEWER PIPE FOR SEALING BETWEEN THE SLEEVE AND THE SEWER PIPE;SAID SEALING SLEEVE BEING OF A LENGTH EXTENDING FROM A POINT ON THEUPPER PORTION OF SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE ADJACENT THE FLOOR ENGAGING FLANGETO A POINT BELOW THE LOWER END OF SAID DEPENDING FINGERS OF SAIDEXPANDER SLEEVE, THE BORE OF SAID SEALING SLEEVE BEING TAPERED INWARDLYFROM THE UPPER END TOWARD THE BOTTOM END TO PROVIDE AN INCREASING WALLTHICKNESS FROM THE UPPER END TOWARD THE LOWER END OF SAID SEALINGSLEEVE, AND AN INTERNAL ANNULAR FLANGE AT THE LOWER END OF THE BORE OFSAID SEALING SLEEVE DISPOSED BELOW AND ADJACENT THE LOWER ENDS OF SAIDDEPENDING FINGERS OF SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE, SAID FLANGE ON THE LOWERPORTION OF SAID SEALING SLEEVE BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LOWER ENDS OFSAID DEPENDING FINGERS OF SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE TO ASSURE MOVEMENT OFSAID SEALING SLEEVE INTO SAID SEWER PIPE AS THE SAME IS POSITIONED INTHE OPEN UPPER END OF SAID SEWER PIPE; AND A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICALTUBULAR LOCK SLEEVE OF LESSER LENGTH THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID EXPANDERSLEEVE HAVING AN EXTERNAL DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY CONFORMING TO THE BOREOF THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE AND HAVING A TAPEREDSURFACE AT ITS LOWER END, SAID LOCK SLEEVE BEING LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLYINSERTABLE IN SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE AND ENGAGING SAID DEPENDING FINGERPORTIONS OF SAID EXPANDER SLEEVE FOR EXPANDING SAID FINGER PORTIONSOUTWARDLY TO COMPRESS THE SEALING SLEEVE BETWEEN SAID FINGERS AND SAIDSEWER PIPE TO SEAL BETWEEN THE EXPANDER SLEEVE AND THE SEWER PIPE; ANDMEANS ON SAID FLANGE ADAPTED TO CONNECT SAID FLANGE WITH A WATER CLOSETBOWL IN A SEALING FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH A WATER CLOSET BOWL.